of the ten virgins as my warrant, and I address that question to every
to cover them! Before the throne of Jesus, every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess that He is the Lord. Remember that day, and beware!
Is there among the readers of this address some dear child of God, who is mocked and despised for the Gospel's sake, and feels as if he stood alone? Take comfort. Be patient. "Wait a little longer!" Your turn shall yet come. When the spies returned from searching Canaan, men talked of stoning Caleb and Joshua, because they brought a good report of the land. A few days passed away, and then all the assembly confessed that they alone had been right. Strive to be like them. Follow the Lord fully, as they did — and sooner or later all men shall confess that you did well. Never, never be afraid of going too far. Never, never be afraid of being too holy. Never, never be ashamed of desiring to go to Heaven, and of seeking to have a great crown. Millions will lament in the day of Christ's return, because they have not enough religion: not one will be heard to say that he has got too much. Take comfort. Press on.
And now, reader, it only remains for me to close this paper by three words of APPLICATION, which seem to me to arise naturally out of the parable of which I have been writing. I heartily pray God to bless them to your soul, and to make them words in season.
1. My first word of application shall be a question. I take the parable of the ten virgins as my warrant, and I address that question to every one of my readers. I ask you, "Are you ready?" Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, "Those who were ready went in with the bridegroom to the wedding banquet" — they who were ready, and no others. Now here, in the sight of God, I ask each and every reader, Is this your case? Are you ready?
I do not ask whether you are a Churchman, and make a profession of religion. I do not ask whether you attend an evangelical ministry, and like evangelical people, and can talk of evangelical subjects, and read evangelical tracts and books. All this is the surface of Christianity. All
this costs little, and may be easily attained. I want to search your heart more thoroughly, and probe your conscience more deeply. I want to know whether you have been born again, and whether you have the Holy Spirit dwelling in your soul. I want to know whether you have any oil in your vessel while you carry the lamp of profession, and whether you are ready to meet the bridegroom — ready for Christ's return to the earth. I want to know, if the Lord would come this week — whether you could lift up your head with joy, and say, "This is our God; we have waited for Him; let us be glad, and rejoice in His salvation." These things I want to know, and this is what I mean when I say, "Are you ready?"
"Ah!" I can imagine some saying, "this is asking far too much. To be ready for Christ's appearing! This is far too high a standard. This is fanaticism. There would be no living in the world at this rate. This is a hard saying. Who can hear it?" I cannot help it. I believe this is the standard of the Bible. I believe this is the standard Paul sets before us when he says the Thessalonians were "waiting for the Son of God from Heaven," and the Corinthians "waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Thessalonians 1:10; 1 Corinthians 1:7.) And surely this is the standard Peter sets before us, when he speaks of "looking for and hastening unto the coming of the day of God." (2 Peter 3:12.) I believe it is a mark, that every true believer should be continually aiming at — to live so as to be ever ready to meet Christ. God forbid that I should place the standard of Christian practice a hair's breadth higher than the level at which the Bible places it. But God forbid that I should ever put it a hair's breadth lower. If I do, what right have I to say that the Bible is my rule of faith?
I want to disqualify no man for usefulness upon earth. I require no man to become a hermit, and cease to serve his generation. I call on no man to leave his lawful calling, and neglect his earthly affairs. But I do call on every one to live like one who expects Christ to return — to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world — to live like a pilgrim and a stranger, ever looking unto Jesus — to live like a good servant, with his loins girded, and his lamp burning — to live